# Brazilian pepper (*Schinus terebinthifolia*) The Brazilian pepper is a bushy plant with bright green leaves and small, red berries. It grows in warm places and can be found in many areas, making it a familiar sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Florida Pepper, Pepper Tree ![Brazilian pepper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/AroeiraDSC_5888.jpg&width=800) Photo: CostaPPPR, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AroeiraDSC_5888.jpg) ## Appearance The Brazilian pepper has dense, dark green leaves with reddish stems and vibrant clusters of small, shiny red berries in fall and winter. Its multi-stemmed growth can form a sprawling shrub or small tree, standing out with its bright fruit. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Schinus ## Interesting facts - Birds love its bright red berries, spreading its seeds far and wide. - Its "peppercorns" are actually fruits, not true pepper spices! - This tough plant can grow into a dense bush or tree in many places. - Touching its sap can make your skin itchy, so be careful! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Colonizer:** Brazilian pepper can grow quickly and spread widely, helping it take over new areas. - **Evergreen Shield:** Its dense leaves stay green all year, shading out other plants below it. - **Tough Survivor:** Brazilian pepper can endure various soils and dry conditions, helping it thrive. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-1000 cm - **Spread:** 200-800 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Fall_winter - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — disperses seeds by consuming berries - **Eats:** Brazilian Pepper Thrips (*Pseudophilothrips ichini*) — feeds on new leaves, slowing growth ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Avoid touching the berries, as they can cause skin irritation for some people. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brazilian pepper? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Brazilian pepper? 300-1000 cm ### How wide does Brazilian pepper spread? 200-800 cm ### How big are the flowers on Brazilian pepper? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does Brazilian pepper bloom? Fall_winter ### Is Brazilian pepper edible? No ### Is Brazilian pepper toxic? Moderate ### What is Brazilian pepper's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Crystal Cove Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-cove-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [South Coast Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-coast-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-key-scrub-state-reserve) — Florida, US · State Park - [Naval Training Center San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naval-training-center-san-diego) — California, US · Historic District - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/venue-af6a0145-181) — California, US · Aquarium - [LaCosta Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lacosta-wetlands) — Florida, US · Park [View all places to see Brazilian pepper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brazilian-pepper) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Brazilian pepper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brazilian-pepper)